Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI)

The GENI program is a joint master's program offered by UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, that aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the various challenges and opportunities facing the circumpolar North. Students will learn how different strategies of governance, entrepreneurship, and resource management can strengthen the position of the communities and the peoples of the region. If you are interested in governance, consultation and entrepreneurship for northern and indigenous communities, the GENI program is relevant for you.

GENI provides interdisciplinary approaches to academic content and includes courses delivered by instructors from different departments and faculties at each partner institution. In addition, the program provides practical content, including technical courses.

The program affords all students a unique opportunity to conduct applied research with industry, government, Indigenous peoples and institutions on issues concerning natural resource management, consultations and negotiations, and economic development or other governance issues in the circumpolar North.

The program is offered flexibly, in both a part-time schedule over eight semesters (4 years) and in a full-time schedule over four semesters (2 years). These two formats facilitate the involvement of students who have already begun their careers and wish to complement their education with a master’s degree, while also allowing more academically focused students to complete the program more quickly.

The program includes internet-based courses, two field schools, an applied research project, and a thesis. All core courses and the field schools are mandatory.

About UArctic

The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North. Our members share resources, facilities, and expertise to build post-secondary education programs that are relevant and accessible to northern students. Our overall goal is to create a strong, sustainable circumpolar region by empowering northerners and northern communities through education and shared knowledge.